Key for musical string-instruments



J. SINGER. Key for Musical String Instrument.

No. 234,643. Patented Nov. 16, I880.

".PETERS, FflOTO-LITHOGRAPMER, wAsmNGwN. D G

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SINGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,643,

dated November 16, 1880.

Application filed November 29, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH SINGER, of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Keys for Musical String-Instruments, which improvement is set forth fully in the following specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of stringinstrument tuning-keys which are constructed with a shoulder and a, thumb-screwor tightening device opposing each other, and bet-ween which the instrumenthead may be firmly pressed to obtain the friction necessary to hold the key after adjustment; and the invention consists in combining with such keys and the instrument the peculiar bushings hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a section of the head of a violin, showing also a longitudinal section of the key and bearings. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the shaft of the key. Fig.

3 is a detail of a modified form of the shaft, which adapts it for use in guitars and ban- ]os. I

In the drawings, B is the shaft of the key, extending entirely through and forming the basis thereof. It has a head or annular flange at one end, which sets up against the flanged bushing G and forms the shoulder above mentioned. The bushing O is inserted in the keyhole upon the side of the instrument where the head is located. Of this device the flange part acts as a washer and to prevent the cylindrical part from slipping through the hole, while the cylindrical part adapts the hole, whatever may be its shape or dimensions, to the key. The shaft is round through about half its length, and upon the round portion has an eye for the securing of the end of the string S. The other half is flattened or squared, and the extremity is threaded, as fully shown in Fig. 1. Upon such flattened portion the bandle D, whereby-the key is turned, is loosely slipped, such handle having an opening through it corresponding to the shape of the part over which it is placed. Another bushing 0, similar to the one already mentioned,

is placed in the key-hole upon the handle side ot the instrument, and the handle may be recessed so as to set down over the same, as shown in the drawings. At the outer end a thumb-nut, A, works upon the threaded portion of the shaft, and may be iuclosed in a recess of the handle D, if preferred.

In operating the device the key is rotated in turningby the handle D, and when the desired tension has been produced in the string the nut A is screwed firmly home against thehandle, and thereby the handle is crowded against the bushing or the instrument upon the one side and a pulling force exerted upon the shaft, which forces the shaft-head against the bushing upon the other side. In this manner all friction necessary to prevent slipping of the key is obtained and great nicety of manipulation is possible without the exertion of any unnecessary force.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3 the annular shoulder or flange is placed some distance from the end, the string-bearing part being outside of it. This shoulder sets against the top of the guitar or banjo head, and the same handle and thumb-nut are applied to the part projecting through and below the head, the same bushings being also used.

The bushings 0 permit the use of this and other similar styles of keys upon any instrument, because, whether the key-holes therein be tapering or straight, or whether the keys fit the holes or not, the latter can be changed from one form to another or reduced to the necessary diameter, or both at the same time, by inserting such bushings, and the latter are so constructed that they do not need to be fastened, but are securely held, when once inserted, by the flange and key.

I claim The combination, with the instrument-head and a tuning-key having a shoulder and a tightening-screw located upon opposite sides of the instrument and embracing the latter with friction-producing pressure, of the bushings O, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH SINGER. Witnesses:

J OSEPH BELL, AUGUSTUS Wnrnn. 

